Ashok Namboodiri
The fascination for the Naagin supernatural drama — a TV soap — has long worn out, but the sinuous Naagin dance of the Bangladesh Tigers still lives on. For decades, India-Pakistan has had monopolised the drama of Asian cricket. But in recent years, a different fixture has acquired its own spark, bite, and narrative muscle. India versus Bangladesh, scheduled next in Dubai on September 24 in the Asia Cup 2025 has quietly become the new Asian derby.
The rivalry found its pop-culture hook in 2018, when Bangladesh’s snake-dance celebration, led by Mushfiqur Rahim, was met with Dinesh Karthik’s last-ball six in the Nidahas Trophy final. What might have been a night of Bangladeshi triumph instead became an eternal meme, seared into the rivalry’s lore. Since then, the Tigers have made it their mission to add substance to that symbolism.
They have delivered too — U-19 world champions in 2020, ODI series wins over India in Dhaka (2015, 2022), and a gritty Asia Cup upset in Colombo in 2023. Bangladesh no longer just play with passion; they win pressure games with structure.
Bangladesh today are more than the genius of Shakib Al Hasan. Their depth is real. Taskin Ahmed leads a seam battery featuring Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Their collective ability to take wickets in every phase gives Bangladesh a new edge. Litton Das’s calm leadership and Towhid Hridoy’s consistency anchor their batting. In the Super 4 opener, Bangladesh chased down 169 against Sri Lanka in 19.5 overs; proof of their composure in crunch moments. From shocking India in bilateral ODIs to holding their nerve in Asia Cup dead-rubbers, they’ve shed their tag of fighters who cannot get thmeselves over the line.
History still tilts India’s way — domination in Tests (13-0) and a commanding ODI and T20 record. But the recent rhythm is different. Bangladesh stunned India 2-1 at home in 2022 and clipped them by six runs in the 2023 Asia Cup. India hit back at the 2023 World Cup and again in Dubai earlier this year, but the margin is narrowing. In T20s, India still have the upper hand, as shown by lopsided wins in 2024, but the Tigers have shown enough to suggest they can pounce if India wobble.
A derby needs three things: history, heat, and hope. History exists across symbols and stadiums — Naagin, Nidahas, Dhaka, Colombo. The heat has always been on with celebrations, spiky exchanges, and partisan fanbases. Bangladesh beating Sri Lanka, India dismantling Pakistan, and both now clashing with points on the line is hope.
Bangladesh have shown grit and maturity in this year’s Asia Cup, advancing to the Super 4s and pulling off a tense last-over win against Sri Lanka. The middle-order, led by Towhid and Saif Hassan, has stepped up under pressure, while Mustafizur’s incisive spells have given the bowling unit bite. Perhaps most importantly, they have displayed mental resilience, winning tight games and proving they can handle crunch moments.
That said, familiar issues linger. The top order has been shaky, often leaving too much work for the middle, and their struggles against spin and variations in the middle-overs remain a concern. Bowling at the death is another area that needs tightening if they are to beat stronger sides like India or Pakistan. Overall, Bangladesh look competitive and dangerous, but greater consistency in starts and sharper execution under pressure will decide if they can go beyond being spoilers to genuine contenders.
The India-Bangladesh rivalry, unlike India-Pakistan has emerged as the modern derby, forged on performance rather than geopolitics. One rivalry is steeped in legacy; the other is driven by grit, memes, and competitive edge. Together, they showcase Asia’s cricketing theatre in two very different forms. On September 24, Dubai won’t just stage a cricket match. It will stage a rivalry that has matured into a genuine Asian derby. The Naagin may still dance in the shadows, but the Tigers now bite, and India know it.
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